Incorrect 'facts'

[byron]

In the Daily Telegraph under a heading of "Pioneers who found different ways of crossing the Channel" the following appears. . .

"FIRST CROSSING BY WATERSKIS
On the 12th March 2010 Christine Bleakley became the first person to water-ski across the channel in a time of just less than 1hr 40mins. Completing the endeavour for charity the BBC One Show presenter had not long taken up waterskiing and fell eight times on the crossing."

This is absolute rubbish. We used to have an annual Cross Channel Water Ski race in the 1960s and early 1970s. This was from Littlestone on Sea to Cap Gris Nez and back. Indeed I actually won it one year (1969?) using a Shakespeare 16' boat, twin Carniti Outboards and David Kathro Skis. Furthermore we did both ways in less than 1 hour 40 minutes.

 

[Chris_d]

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story

Byron the boaty stuff you've done over the years never cease's to amaze me, you should write a book sometime, before you start dribbling and wetting yourself

 

[pheran]

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story

Byron the boaty stuff you've done over the years never cease's to amaze me, you should write a book sometime, before you start dribbling and wetting yourself

Just a bit too late, I reckon Chris!

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Maybe Christine is quite photogenic?

 

[byron]

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story

Byron the boaty stuff you've done over the years never cease's to amaze me, you should write a book sometime, before you start dribbling and wetting yourself

Well it has been rather a long time since I first went on a ship. My toy when I was 5 or 6 years old was a lifeboat off my dad's ship and that would be not long after the end of WW2.
My earliest memories involve maritime stuff. In January 1952 I was aboard one of the vessels that stood by the Flying Enterprise (google it).
Just think what Dee will know and remember when she is an old lady if she continues boating the rest of her life.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

I dug this post out because...

I was trying to find if anything at all remained of the company that was once famous for its waterskis - Kathro.

I have renovated an old Kathro wooden mono ski (Jeez, its a heavy thing!) and fitted new bindings and lashings of clear yacht varnish. I have just about managed to restore the blue K on the front underside. I was interested to see if a) Kathro was still in business and b) what history of them if they are not still going, and why they disappeared? There is no info that I can find other than poeople selling their old Kathro skis; and this post by Byron.

So what did happen to Kathro?

 

[Vern]

Some of the media frequently fail to either check their statements before publication or worse still, make up the 'facts' to suit their agenda.

 

[byron]

I was trying to find if anything at all remained of the company that was once famous for its waterskis - Kathro.
.

So what did happen to Kathro?

David Kathro Skis were THE water skis to own. The name was synonymous with quality. No self respecting skier would use anything else. I wasn't aware they had disappeared maybe business fell off when coastal councils started banning water skiing within a half mile or so of their shores. This and other restrictions would have a heavy toll on business. Inland lakes were always at a premium and occupied by clubs anyway. Most 'free' skiing was on salt water, you could even ski on the Hamble about a mile above Bursledon Bridge and Hayling Island harbour was a real popular venue.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

David Kathro Skis were THE water skis to own. The name was synonymous with quality. No self respecting skier would use anything else. I wasn't aware they had disappeared maybe business fell off when coastal councils started banning water skiing within a half mile or so of their shores. This and other restrictions would have a heavy toll on business. Inland lakes were always at a premium and occupied by clubs anyway. Most 'free' skiing was on salt water, you could even ski on the Hamble about a mile above Bursledon Bridge and Hayling Island harbour was a real popular venue.

Or maybe it was the expensive (but good) hand made wooden ski vs. the cheap light weight made in China acceptable quality ski that did for them - sadly.

 

[neale]

Took me two seconds to find This online. Think I caught a glimpse of Byron

 

[byron]

Took me two seconds to find This online. Think I caught a glimpse of Byron

Good grief! What a find, I have saved a copy, Yes! I would have been there but I didn't see myself unless that was me coming in on a Mono, I say that as I was one of the few that preferred to Mono there and back. My boat would definitely been one of those on the beach.

 

[neale]

Good grief! What a find, I have saved a copy, Yes! I would have been there but I didn't see myself unless that was me coming in on a Mono, I say that as I was one of the few that preferred to Mono there and back. My boat would definitely been one of those on the beach.

I was actually jesting about seeing you, but glad you liked it. My point really was how easy it would have been for the journo to find that the 2010 crossing was not the first.

 

[byron]

Rarely do Journalists allow the facts to spoil a good story. I saw another clip in the same location, it was a year later I think, I remember it being rough and really really tiring.

I was watching the movie 'Dunkirk' yesterday. I clearly saw a GRP boat in one of the shots, it looked rather like a Freeman but is wasn't.

 

[AdrianNeale]

Good Afternoon

Just stumbled accross this site and it brought back some really wonderful memories.

I was a member of the Varne Boat Club in the Early 60's to mid 70's and remember the Cross Channel very well indeed. Found the footage of the 1966 XChannel very memory evoking as it was the first ever race that I and my brother Terry took part in. From 1967 Water ski racing took over our lives and my little brother went on to be Junior Champion 3 years on the trot once Billy Rixon had gone into the seniors. I was never quite that good although did win the Cross Channel in 1970 which again was in very rough conditions so that we only went half way and back twice. Saw the footage of John Boardman winning in 1968. He and his sister Sue and Mother and Father were very good friends of our family at that time. Thanks for bringing back the Good Old Days

 

[Young Mitchell]

Have stumbled on this forum whilst trying to find information on Weston-super-Mare Ski club in the late 60's early 70's.

My brother Ian, worked for David Kathro in Weston making the water skis for several years, he then left and went to work for Westland helicopters. I have still got off cuts of mahogany and beech veneers that he brought home for father. In a recent clear out of our garage my wife said what do want them for, but I couldn't throw them out. Ian also brought home a few of the transfers that were used on the skis, Gemini, Wagtail, Junior etc. I had them in an envelope but I think they dried out and have been thrown.

Ian and other older brother John were both members of the Weston Ski club, Ian skiing John driving, I can't remember who the observer was. I was a Junior. It is Ians 70th this next month, we are trying to get things together for a surprise party and I was trying to find out information on a photo his wife has found of a group of the Weston skiers taken by the Weston Mercury Newspaper. It is a proof photo and we do not have the article but she thinks it's when Weston won the Regional Round of ski races. We do not have a date at present either, but around late 60's early 70's.

I have also found on the BBC site archive of a sries that Sir John Betjemin did 'Birds Eye View, Beside the Sea Side' 1969 which has a feature on Weston and some shots of skiers (not racing). 25 minutes exactly in, skier on orange Kathro racing skis Ian, with his boat 20 Siren (Tremlet Hull) with John driving.

I can also remember that Ian did do the channel ski once.

After the party I will get some more info from him on the later days of Kathro Skis.

 

[AdrianNeale]

I remember my father "Mad" Wally Neale sitting down with David Kathro to design a ski that was better for racing and they produced a ski that was longer and had bigger turn ups at the front. My old flame Orange Kathro Racing ski with the open rear binding, which my wife got sick of the sight of, now hangs proudly in the Chattel house of my good pal JB in Barbados. Saw it in May this year. With sadness discovered that Terry Sleap (of Marshan Fame) passed away recently. My thoughts go to his family. I remember very well his first Marshan a 19 foot wooden hull on which he hung 2 x 135 Mercs and we tried it out in the Chasewater 100 where I skied with my brother Terry and John Boardman. Well John didn't do much as, before the race, he tried a dry water start off the floating dock and sprained his wrist. My only memory of that race is that it was won by Brendon Bowles from Penarth and we just couldn't get the trim right on the Marshan. HAPPY DAYS - that was around 1970 but cannot be sure.

 

[Harvey Ballbanger]

Re: Good Afternoon

Just stumbled accross this site and it brought back some really wonderful memories.

I was a member of the Varne Boat Club in the Early 60's to mid 70's and remember the Cross Channel very well indeed. Found the footage of the 1966 XChannel very memory evoking as it was the first ever race that I and my brother Terry took part in. From 1967 Water ski racing took over our lives and my little brother went on to be Junior Champion 3 years on the trot once Billy Rixon had gone into the seniors. I was never quite that good although did win the Cross Channel in 1970 which again was in very rough conditions so that we only went half way and back twice. Saw the footage of John Boardman winning in 1968. He and his sister Sue and Mother and Father were very good friends of our family at that time. Thanks for bringing back the Good Old Days

Gents, I have just found your thread after the "Christine Bleakley" credit causing me sleepless nights for 5 years and as it seems there have been fellow sufferers I have tried to edit the wikepedia page. It seems successful and although I was unaware of who might have been the first at least the person who wasn't isn't getting undue glory.
I have edited the